Bandal Namco has announced its latest project, Pac-Man 256, developed by Australian studio Hipster Whale and Bandai Namco Studios Vancouver, coming later this summer for mobile devices. The game is intended to be a "recapturing" of the original Pac-Man universe for modern gamers.
From the press release:
Pac-Man 256 allows players to enjoy a brand new genre of Pac-Man games; the iconic character created by Namco in 1980 will star in an endless maze chased by the infamous “256 Glitch”! Hipster Whale and Bandai Namco Studios Vancouver have perfectly recaptured creator Iwatani Toru’s original Pac-Man universe for a modern day mobile experience. Players can expect to encounter plenty of Pac-Dots, Power Pellets, and the notorious ghost ensemble: Blinky, Pinky, Inky, and Clyde. Pac-Man 256 will also feature coins, power-ups and more to spice-up the thrilling pursuit.
Tatsuya Kubota, Head of Mobile & Web Gaming at Bandai Namco Europe:
“The gaming industry keeps on growing massively on a daily basis and we, at Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe, are proud to be pioneers of this with some of the biggest licenses out there! This year, we are celebrating Pac-Man’s 35th Anniversary and we couldn’t miss such an opportunity: we decided to create a brand new exciting game with Hipster Whale and Bandai Namco Studios Vancouver. This results in a stirring game based on some elements that made history. Join us in celebrating Pac-Man’s anniversary!”
“We are thrilled to be working with the creators of the huge hit Crossy Road in creating a new Pac-Man game for his 35th anniversary. We’re already seeing incredibly strong, hooking gameplay in the early prototypes, and cannot wait to share this experience with everyone!”
Finally, here's Hipster Whale Director, Matthew Hall (who was just five years old when Pac-Man was born):
“Playing Pac-Man in a seaside arcade in 1980 is one of my earliest memories. It is an incredible honor to be able to contribute to one of the most iconic video game franchises in history. Our game, Pac-Man 256, takes the infamous ‘glitch’ level of Pac-Man and builds upon this to become a unique game that retains the retro spirit of the original.”
